Top MLB Betting Series of the Week (August 15th)

Easily the series of the early week in baseball starts Tuesday night from Camden Yards in Baltimore as the Orioles host the AL East-rival Boston Red Sox. As of Monday, the O’s are a half a game behind Toronto for first place in the division but Baltimore holds the first AL wild-card spot. The Red Sox hold the second one, 1.5 games behind the Birds and 1.5 games ahead of Detroit. So these teams could meet again in that one-game playoff come October if neither wins the division. There is no series line on MLB odds because it’s only two games since the teams could tie.

Here’s a Look at the Top MLB Betting Series of the Week (August 15th)

First Stop: Cleveland ✈️ pic.twitter.com/2E8szPFo3p

— Boston Red Sox (@RedSox) August 15, 2016

Baltimore had a crazy win on Sunday over San Francisco in rallying from a six-run deficit to beat the Giants 8-7. Jonathan Schoop’s three-run home run off a hanging Santiago Casilla curveball with two outs provided the winning runs, and the Giants bullpen gave up five runs in the final two innings. Baltimore’ s Zach Britton recorded his 37th save in 37 chances — the fifth-longest streak to begin a season since 1969. Britton hasn’t allowed an earned run since April, and his stretch of 39 appearances without an earned run is an MLB record. The Orioles relievers rank first in the American League with a 3.19 ERA and second in the majors with 26 wins. The bullpen’s 26-9 record (.743) leads the big leagues. The Orioles salvaged their stay in the Bay Area, taking two of three from San Francisco, one of the best teams in the National League, after losing three of four to the last-place Oakland Athletics. The Orioles finished their three-city, 10-game trip that began with three games in Chicago with a 5-5 record. Baltimore’s Mark Trumbo homered Sunday for his 34th of the season to retake the big-league lead. He’s ahead of Toronto’s Edwin Encarnacion by one dinger. It also matched Trumbo’s career high, set in 2011 with the Angels. On Tuesday, Baltimore starts Yovani Gallardo and the game is nationally televised by the MLB Network. Gallardo (4-4, 5.17) limited the A’s to a single run over six innings Wednesday, but was stuck with a hard-luck loss. He struck out six while allowing four hits and two walks. Gallardo, whose last three starts have been on the road, is 1-3 over his last eight starts but has put together two solid innings in which he has allowed three runs in 12 innings. Gallardo is 2-2 with a 5.26 ERA against the Red Sox. Boston goes with young lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (2-5, 5.43). He threw seven innings of one-run ball while punching out six and walking one against the Yankees last Thursday. Rodriguez has been dominant since his midseason return from Triple-A Pawtucket. On Wednesday, with the game on ESPN, the Sox go with lefty David Price (10-8, 4.29). He allowed three runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out eight over eight innings in Boston’s 9-4 win over Arizona on Friday. The ace is struggling in his debut season for Boston, going 2-3 in his past eight starts. Price has gone into the seventh inning or later in five of those eight starts. Baltimore goes with ace Chris Tillman (15-4, 3.46). Tillman allowed two runs on five hits while striking out four over seven innings in a win over the A’s on Thursday. He did not walk a batter. He is 10-3 with a 2.74 ERA in 19 starts against the Red Sox. The Orioles, who lead the season series 6-4, have the second-best home record in the majors at 39-17 (.696). My Betting Pick I like Boston in Tuesday’s game but the Orioles on Wednesday for a series split on MLB odds.